If you're learning English, you’ve probably noticed that "make" and "do" can be tricky to use correctly. While both verbs relate to actions, they aren’t always interchangeable, and their usage often depends on fixed expressions rather than strict rules. For example, we say "do homework" but "make a mistake." So how do you know which one to use? In this post, we’ll break down the key differences between "make" and "do," explore common phrases, and provide tips to help you use them naturally in conversation. Let’s dive in!
Expressions with "do"
• An exam / a test / a course à I’m doing my driving test tomorrow.
• Exercise à I go for a run and do exercise every day.
• (Someone) a favour à Martin, could you do me a favour?
• Homework à The students hardly every do their homework.
• The military service à It’s obligatory to do the military service in Isarel.
• Housework and chores (including dishes (washing-up), shopping, ironing, cooking, laundry, cleaning, gardening, etc). We say “do the shopping”, “do the ironing”, “do the dishes…”
• Do well / do badly / do your best à I think I did really well in the exam.
• Non-specific activities (do anything / do something / do nothing / do everything / do much )
Expressions with "make"
• Appointments / arrangements / plans / decisions / à You need to make a decision today.
• An attempt / an effort à You have to make an effort to get to the top.
• (The) bed à Zoe always does her bed in the morning. • A cake, breakfast, lunch, dinner, a cup of coffee…
• An excuse à Don’t make any excuses, you have to finish this today!
• A film (but not make a photo/picture à take a photo/picture)
• A list à Have you made a shopping list? • Love à My neighbours are very noisy when they make love.
• A mistake à I’m sorry, I made a mistake.
• Money (=earn) à My mother is a banker and she makes a lot of money.
• A noise à Don’t make a noise. You’re going to wake up the baby.
• An offer à My boss made me an offer I couldn’t refuse.
• A phone call à I need to make a phone call before I go out.
• A profit à The company is making a lot of profit.
• A suggestion à Let me make a suggestion, get a haircut!
• Trouble à These boys are always making trouble!
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